The Denver Post unpublished an opinion column because it had a “significant error.”
In an Oct. 21 editor’s note, editor Megan Schrader explained the Oct. 18 column had a major error in claiming a TV ad against a proposition that would let the state use extra revenue money for state projects was paid for by to Koch brothers-funded political advocacy group for less governmental regulation, but it was actually paid for by to an organization that advocates against anti-business policies.
iMediaEthics has written to the column writer Ian Silverii, and both advocacy organizations.
Schrader told iMediaEthics by e-mail, “Spokesmen with both Americans for Prosperity and Defend Colorado reached out to me to point out the error shortly after Silverii’s opinion column was published online Friday morning. I briefly explored whether the article could be corrected or whether the more drastic measure of taking the story down completely needed to be taken. The story was published for a few hours before I made it private, removing it from public view.”
Schrader said the Post typically just posts corrections but because in this case the Post removed the article, she posted an editor’s note. It reads:
“On Friday, Oct. 18, The Denver Post published an opinion column online written by Ian Silverii. Shortly after it was published, it was brought to our attention that the article contained a significant error. I immediately removed the article from public view online and did not run the article in print. Ordinarily, when an error occurs, The Denver Post corrects the text and places a transparent correction at the bottom of the story online and on page 2A if the story appeared in print. Because this article is no longer published online and did not appear in print, I’ve decided to err on the side of transparency with a note to our readers explaining why the story was removed and correcting the error.
“Silverii’s column attributed a TV ad opposing Proposition CC to the group Americans for Prosperity, however, the ad was actually run by a separate entity known as Defend Colorado.